Diane Dorrington v. Department of Public Health - Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (SPR 20232281)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 6, 2023 SPR23/2281 Helen Rush-Lloyd Records Access Officer Department of Public Health 250 Washington Street, Second Floor Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms. Rush-Lloyd: I have received the petition of Diane Dorrington appealing the response of the Department of Public Health (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On August 28, 2023, Ms. Dorrington requested, “… information on the procedure used for any abortion at or above 24 weeks for the year 2022, to include (but not limited to) any abortion type listed as ‘other,’ on the abortion statistic tables.” On September 12, 2023, the Department responded and indicated that they had no responsive records. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response Ms. Dorrington petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2281, was opened as a result. It is my understanding that the Department intends on providing a further response to Ms. Dorrington. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Ms. Dorrington with said response in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Regulations within 10 business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Dorrington may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Diane Dorrington One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us